The UGC has ordered colleges and universities to include electoral literacy in their curriculum for active democratic participation, following a MoU between the Ministry of Education and the Election Commission of India.
- UGC asks HEIs to include voter education in their curriculum for academic year 2024-25
- Electoral literacy to be integrated in both formal education and lifelong learning courses
- Programme to remain non-political and non-partisan, ensuring unbiased voter education
The University Grants Commission (UGC) has urged all Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) to incorporate voter education and electoral literacy into their educational framework through a circular.
This directive follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Education and the Election Commission of India (ECI) on November 2, 2023.
This initiative to lead a greater electoral participation by preparing the new and upcoming future voters through formal education.
HEIs are expected to make electoral literacy mandate, an integral part of their courses, encouraging students to become well-informed individuals and take active part in the democratic process said the UGC in a notification.
The Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) and the Department of Higher Education (DoHE) are supporting the cause by implementing a series of activities in line with the MoU’s goals.
The plan follows:
- Electoral content an integral part in the curriculum: Colleges and universities should incorporate vote education into their syllabus in a suitable manner for various disciplines, considering the credit hours and learning requirements of each subject.
- Upgraded textbooks and teacher training: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will update their textbooks to include electoral literacy as well, likewise the state boards and other education authorities are advised to adopt similar measures. Teachers will receive training and orientation programmes on how to effectively teach these topics.
ELECTORAL LITERACY TO BE INCORPORATED
The electoral education isn’t limited to formal university students. The UGC’s initiative extends to adults as well for basic literacy and education programmes, integrating voter literacy as a vital part of lifelong learning.
This helps ensure that the broader population, beyond traditional classrooms also have access to resources on the importance of electoral processes and informed voting.
The UGC has emphasised that the programme should remain non-political and non-partisan to exhibit integrity. Regular monitoring will be carried out at both national and state levels to ensure that the goals are met without any bias or political influence.
The UGC’s focus on integrating electoral literacy into the education system is expected to foster a more informed and engaged voter base, helping to strengthen democratic participation in the country.
